WE’RE ON ROADS TO NOWHERE

It’s triple travel chaos

TRIPLE travel hell threatens to suck the joy out of Britain as people prepare for Christmas.

And the chaos starts today with travel trouble on the trains, on the roads and at airports, not to mention the weather.

The “perfect storm” of track closures, higher prices and longer journeys will make this the “worst ever” Christmas on the railway.

Some 260 engineering projects at stations and on tracks will disrupt journeys.

And more than 30million vehicles will clog the roads over the festive period as passengers try to dodge the railway debacle.

Meanwhile, a quarter of a million people will pass through Heathrow tomorrow – almost two per second – as strong winds and rain prepare to batter the country.

And this afternoon near five-hour delays are expected on the M6 and up to two hours on the M3, the AA have said. Tomorrow “Frantic Friday” will see commuters battle ® for road space with 1.25million people rushing to get away for the holidays.

RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “A lot of people will be travelling to meet family and in-laws.

“Many don’t want to be there for the whole week before Christmas.

“This week will be busy, with Friday the busiest day. Schools are breaking up, people heading out for Christmas, mixing with the normal commuter traffic as well.”

Saturday will be the busiest day for shopping traffic, with millions of Brits having left buying their gifts until the last minute.

But those hoping to bag a bargain will not do so on train fares, with many operators axing all cheap advance fares over the Christmas period.

Bruce Williamson of campaign group Railfuture said: “Some will feel it’s their worst-ever Christmas on the railways.”